Living Room Transformation

by RhodaNovember 26, 2012

I know you are all dying for another peek at the house progress, so we’ll start with the living room today.

Putting the living room together was a bit challenging at first, but I’m really happy with it now. I was passing through there day after day, trying to figure out what I wanted to do in there as far as placing this and that. I got my new drapes in and was eager to put them up, but really need another set of eyes to get them hung just right. You know how that goes. My friend, Debbie, came over for a few hours and we got the drapes hung and started moving things around. And before I knew it, I was really liking the room.

Let’s look back again at the Before pics. You have to know where we started in this house to really appreciate where I am now.

Remember this shot?

Amazing the difference, I can hardly believe it’s the same house either.

I look around in amazement every single day and say, “thank you, Lord” when I wake up every morning. So, let’s look around.

This painted chest fit so well at the top of the stairs and I had this spot in mind for it all along. I was happy to see it in place and how great it looks coming up the stairs. My big antique mirror that I’ve had over 25 years works so well above it on this vaulted ceiling. I am so happy with how all my furniture fits in here, like it was meant to be and it was!

The full view of the living room. I’ll tell you a bit about my thought process on how I decided on fabrics in here and a rug. I already knew that I was going to keep my walls really neutral this time around. I love the white on white paint look and thought it would really show off my antique dark wood pieces and my upholstered pieces too.

When I chose the Ikat turquoise fabric (Tilbury from Calico Corners), I chose it because of its colors, bringing in the turquoise that I love, along with the gold and a bit of green in the fabric. I knew that this would bridge all of my fabrics together and work well with those gold leather chairs, that are a strong bold gold. I made the decision to only frame the windows with 2 panels and not try to put panels next to the fireplace since the windows butt up against it. I love how they turned out with just a panel on each end of the windows.

The room is really cozy now with the rock fireplace, which also picks up the tones from my furniture. I’ll be adding some gas logs to the fireplace soon, I hope.

The zebra rug from Shaw Floors (Zybra inTeal) is the icing on the cake and just adding the drapes and the rug makes a lot of changes in my room, I think.

I had already begun to add some turquoise colors to my space before I moved and I made an even more concerted effort in this one.

You’ll recognize all my same accessories, I have so many things that I’ve collected over the years, so have plenty to choose from.

Debbie and I brainstormed and brought this black desk that I found at a yardsale and painted black, upstairs to the living room and flanked it with 2 chairs that were in my old breakfast space. Many of these things were found at yardsales, including the print on the wall, the iron sconces, and all those white pieces. I still love my yardsale finds!

I had enough fabric to recover the chair seats and love how they look. These chairs that I painted black many years ago have served me well over the years.

The fireplace was a good place to put my $5 firescreen, also a yardsale find and those 2 urns are from Willow House. My new aqua glass floats work on top. Eventually, I’ll get a rustic mantel for this fireplace as I do dearly love to have a mantel to decorate too. That preserved boxwood wreath came from Lowes.

My round drum table holds some books and other pretties. I brought a bit of Alabama cotton back to Georgia with me.

Behind the sofa,which is an Ethan Allen sofa that I bought when I used to work there, I added my demilune little table that I painted aqua a couple of years ago. The mirror above is from Kirklands and a recent find. Those 2 columns were in my old dining room.

Another look behind the sofa, my china cabinet is a good backdrop on this wall.

So, that’s a look at how the living room is looking now and I couldn’t wait to share with all of you. I love layers and that’s how it all came together. Having something on that focal wall with the desk and 2 chairs was important to do, I think, to add more dimension to the room.

I’m getting out all my Christmas stuff this week and getting ready to add some Christmas cheer around this place. I still have lots of organizing to do to get completely finished in my bedroom and office and all the extras are still in the den.

My roommate, Rhonda, will be here next week, so I’ve got to get moving. Rhoda and Rhonda, say that really fast! The funny thing is, I get called Rhonda ALL the time. Ever since I started grade school, I have to correct people on my name constantly. I told my mom she should have just named me Rhonda.

Wait until you see what I’ve been up to in the laundry room/storage area. I painted the concrete floor with stripes. Couldn’t stand the thought of doing laundry in that dingy room, so we are fixing it up to make it at least presentable until I can give it an overhaul in the spring. It’s looking so much better already. Dad is coming over today to help me with that space. Can’t wait to show you soon!

Hope you are having a great week and starting to get in the Christmas mood. Don’t forget, our linky parties start next week! Eeeek, I’ve got to get busy.

Love the room! Amazing transformation to say the least…but, did you forget the price tag on the plant in the turquoise pot in front of the fireplace? Maybe it is supposed to be there, but I just wanted you to know in case it wasn’t. 😉

You, your folks, and friends have worked hard to transform this house into your home, which I’m sure, makes it all the more special. This room is just beautiful, and it’s great to see things that are familiar to those of us who have been following you for a while. Great job-looking forward to seeing more!

Rhoda, your living room is just amazing…what a fantastic transformation…you have incorporated your beautiful furnishings and treasures so wonderfully…so very happy for you…Love, love the drapery fabric…my favorite color combination…It’s no wonder you wake up and roam the house with a huge smile and feeling of accomplishment…!

Although I’ve only been following your blog for a year, I can tell this beautiful room screams ‘Rhoda’. The accessories, the colors and the furniture placement are all stunning examples of your amazing design sense. You have done so much in the short time you are there, I can’t wait to see what it will look like when you’re all finished, which at the rate you’re going will be next week ;).

There is something beautiful to see everywhere you look! I can only imagine how proud and grateful you are to have such a beautiful home – not to mention tired from all the hard work! Thank you for sharing!

Just look at what you have accomplished Rhoda! Your home has all of your old things but it looks so fresh and new. I was waiting eagerly to see how you put it together. More girl, don’t keep us hanging.

What a transformation! I truly enjoy each post about this journey you’ve been on this past year! I laughed the first time you told us you were getting a roomie named Rhonda! There might be a little confusion along the way! haha!

Rhoda, you have such a great way of bringing a room together. I’ve seen that fabric in the Ballard’s catalog and love it – the colors are a fun pop of color and really compliment the wood tones in the room. It’s a beautiful space – I hope you enjoy it!!

When my living grows up, it wants to look just like this!
I would really be interested in knowing what the previous owners think of this house now.
Keep up the wonderful work – it’s fabulous (just like I knew it would be!!)
~S~

Love it! WOW !! So pretty! Really stunningly beautiful !! Best before and after picture ever! I agree with others – this is magazine worthy, Southern Living and Better Homes and Gardens should jump on this! A showcase room with big walls and high ceilings and you really pulled it off using all your favorites that we love. The columns make the room too. What a nice view to wake up to when you come downstairs in the morning on your way to your oh-so-cute cottage kitchen! I can see you smiling every time you make that trip from one end of your house to the other! Thanks for sharing. You’ve been busy for sure!

Today’s pictures are so special. Having followed you and all the hard work, love, and definitely sense of style on this journey,I am completely blown away! Beautiful, your home embodies the difference between furnishings and having great style. Congratulations.

Looking good! Don’t you love it when a room tells you what it needs (and doesn’t). I think the more time you’re in a space the more the space tells you what works there.
Enjoy following all of your progress in this new place. You have made quite a transformation! The before and afters photos speak volumes to your talents.

As always, you are an amazing woman. The house is beautiful. You have given me some “food for thought” on the arrangement of your living room furniture. I have been thinking of changing things around some and now I know what to do. Thank you again for posting this lovely story of the remake of your home. I look forward to seeing the next room.

My Goodness Rhoda,
You must be totally giddy with joy at the outcome of this journey, I can just imagine the sigh of breath that escapes you every morning when you wake up and see how far you have come and how rewarding all of your blood sweat and tears have paid off! The room looks spectacular, Happy Monday!!
Peace and Hugs, Nerina xOxO

Rhoda, everything looks so nice! It’s truly a blessing everything that you have accomplished (of course with help from several sources). But it’s starting to look like your home now. Blessings Paula Lusk

I hate to rain on the parade of platitudes but I have one suggestion. I think I know why you didn’t think the curtains looked right. Even if you are only going to hang panels at one end, you need to extend the rod over to the fireplace. Otherwise it looks like you have forgotten that you have a second set of windows. If you can still get the fabric, I would also add more width to the panels. They look a little stingy.

HI, Patty, thanks for the suggestion, but I really do love them as they are. If I did double width panels, it would completely cover my window and that’s not what I want. I’ve also seen rods frame windows like this and not go all the way across, so for now I’m leaving them as they are. Thanks though for your opinions, we’ve all got one of those!

What a transformation! It really is the details that make the difference and that’s where I get bogged down. I will study your pictures and, hopefully, my walls, tables, etc. will soon not look so bare. Thanks for all the inspiration.

Rhoda,
Everything looks just beautiful! It warms my heart to see you having a new home to call your own. Your parents are precious and I love seeing them, too. You helped me a few years ago with my den. I have been following your blog and look forward to seeing the rest of your house as it evolves. Soooo happy for you!
Margaret

So interesting to see how different your living room looks from your previous house with the same basic furnishings. This room is very elegant and speaks to adding architectual interest with columns, etc.

I have looked at your dining room transformation through THREE different houses and am just amazed. I think most of us get stuck and wouldn’t think we could update as much as you have with accessories.

I saved pictures of your old dining room(s) with (#1) red walls and a painting over the buffet and (#2) taupe walls with the same buffet and a large, round mirror. Am I right? I love that you now have (#3) same buffet with more modern lamps. So, two houses, three very different looks, and the same pretty buffet.

So happy for you. It’s beautiful, can’t wait to see the other rooms.
How far are your parents from this home? I just love them and I know you cherish them too. Take some time to enjoy the labor of your work.

Rhoda, Your living room looks absolutely beautiful! I love the way you have combined fabrics, patterns and so many different elements to create your beautiful and homey space. I am so happy for you and all you have going on! I can’t wait to see your laundry room… I saw a peak on Instagram and know it will be fabulous!

Really coming along and looks great. I am almost there with my remodel.

I also redid my little laundry room by simply adding a shelf behind the appliances that I did not have and removing the center portion of the cabinet doors and replacing it with used chicken wire from an old storage area in the garage. Looks adorable! Guess I should post some pics on my blog!
Thanks again for sharing all your hard work

Not sure if you’ll see this post after a couple of days, but
I was hoping you could give me some suggestions where to find columns? Yours are beautiful! I need height in my living room and I am getting a little tired of my faux ficus plant! I live in the Pittsburgh area and have no idea where to even start looking. You did answer someone’s other comment how the wreath was hanging from the fireplace. Your living room is gorgeous!

Hi, KC, thanks for stopping by! I got those columns years ago at Lakewood Antiques here in ATL, but they are closed down now. Scott Antiques has architectural salvage things too & you will need to find some place in your area that carries salvage pieces, that’s where you are likely to find columns. Do a search in your area and see what you come up with. These type places are really popular now. I’m sure Pittsburgh is no exception.

I think the big fake columns are tacky and don’t fit with your theme, also the room is quite cluttered, I think you will find over time that you don’t have to use every nick nack you own, less is more!

Hi, Jan, the columns aren’t fake, they are real wood and I don’t have a theme. And believe me, I haven’t come close to using all my accessories. I have tons left on the shelves. I’ll never be a minimalist, that is for sure!

Rhoda, what a wonderful job you have done with this room! It is such a warm and inviting space and really sets the tone for the whole house—and is such a reflection of you. I am so glad that you have such a beautiful space to begin each new day.

Welcome! Thanks for stopping by! I'm Rhoda, from Atlanta, GA and I love decorating and DIY projects. Decorating a home doesn't have to cost a fortune and I've spent years thrifting at antiques markets and yard sales, finding those treasures that make a home unique. I'm here to inspire and encourage other women to find their own inner creativity. Won't you join me?
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